vertigo is the feeling or sensation of environment around us is spinning or moving when we are not. Most commonly vertigo is caused due to problems with inner ears. Vertigo is not a disease, instead it is a symptom of varying conditions. Both dizziness and vertigo are balance problems but the vertigo is the sensation of moving our surroundings while dizziness is the feeling of total unbalance of the body.
Vertigo attack is common in females as compared with men and it is more seen in people above 60years. People can experience vertigo for several minutes to days or even months. Vertigo condition can be serious and indicate certain serious underlying causes. vertigo relieves on its own in many cases.
Causes of Vertigo
Vertigo can happen when there is a problem with the anatomy of inner ear, brain or sensory nerve pathway.
BPPV Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo – this is the most common cause of vertigo. BPPV occurs when the calcium particles are dislodged into the fluid of inner ear. It causes mild to intense dizziness. When the position of head changes, this movement trigger the dizziness. Idiopathic BPPV means there is no known cause for the BPPV. Less common causes of BPPV include migraines, minor to major blows to head.
Meniere’s disease-
It is caused due to variation of fluid pressure in the inner ear. It causes tinnitus and hearing loss along with vertigo.
Labirinthitis-
This is caused due to the infections of inner ear. Infection occurs to internal lining of the inner ear surrounding the sensory nerve that account for body sense balance
Head injury
Cervical injury
Certain medications
Migraine headaches
Arrythmia
Stroke
Diabetes
Ear surgery, peri lymphatic fistula
Ataxia or muscle weakness
Multiple sclerosis
Acoustic anaemia
Symptoms of vertigo
Spinning sensation or dizziness which usually aggravate with head and cervical movement.
Nausea
Vomiting
tinnitus
Headache
Hearing loss
Loss of balance of the body
Motion sickness
Feeling of fullness in the ear
Types of vertigo
1.peripheral vertigo
2.central vertigo
Peripheral vertigo
This is the common type of vertigo This occurs due to the damage of the inner ear anatomy. Also due to damage of vestibular nerve which control balance of our body. It is more severe than central vertigo
Types of peripheral vertigo
1.BPPV or Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
- Meniere’s disease
In BPPV small calcium crystals fall into the fluid of inner ear which produces the feeling of dizziness. It is the most common form of peripheral vertigo. Meniere’s disease causes sudden vertigo, often so severe. In Meniere’s disease along with dizziness, occasional hearing loss, nausea vomiting also combine. Exact cause of this hearing loss and dizziness is not known but stress is thought to be a cause of the condition. limit intake of caffein and salt as these two components aggravate balance issue.
Vestibular neuronitis, labyrinthitis, perilymph fistula, superior semi-circular canal dehiscence syndrome are also results into the inner ear damage.
Central vertigo
Central vertigo is caused by mainly brain injuries or by some infections to associated brain structures like brain stem.
Multiple sclerosis
Migraines
Brain tumors
Strokes
Transient ischemic attacks
Prevention
To prevent vertigo attacks we should follow some of the following strategies.
Take more time to stand up and doing any triggering movements like turning the head to any side.
Take squatting position to pick up something from the ground instead of bending over the body.
We should sit immediately as soon as we face the dizziness.
Do simple exercises to prevent the dizzy episodes.
Sleep with head a little elevated with two pillows.
Get up slowly from bed while getting up and sit on the edge of bed for some time before standing up
We must move the neck very carefully while the attack is prevalent.
Ayurvedic Management of Vertigo
In Ayurveda the condition vertigo is remarked as Bhrama which causes the feeling of spinning out of surrounding environment. It is due to vitiation of Vatha and Pitha considerably. Classic Ayurveda narrates numerous herbal combinations to pacifying this state. Specific herbal combinations along with customized Panchakarma treatment plan eases the gravity of the vertigo related sufferings like dizziness, nausea, vomiting, headache etc. if anyone of your dear and near are facing this episode of vertigo, contact Samwarthika Ayurveda Hospital where you will get the best diagnosis, treatment and yoga sessions which you need to relieve your condition. Experienced Doctor’s faculty will instruct and coach you in special ear exercises which are must to uplift the cure grade of your condition.
Thank you.
